Partnership Ministry Teams are Christian health and business professionals who provide financial support, prayer, medicines, medical equipment and advisory services for the development of a specific ministry. They serve as volunteer partners with a Christian colleague from another nation who has a vision for meeting the needs of his or her people through medical and spiritual ministry. It is an opportunity for North American Christians to do more than give financially to missions; the PMT is an avenue for direct involvement that allows people to use their own skills in the development of an ongoing medical ministry.
Who makes up a PMT?
A PMT is usually comprised of business and health professionals. The team can also have additional supporting members from their communities, churches and/or families. Others who wish to play an active role are encouraged to do so. Some people choose to participate in a PMT in part because they want to expose their families and churches to other cultures as a means to teach the Kingdom values in a practical way.
What benefits do PMTs offer?
PMTs offer benefits to all involved. Team members visit their colleagues in their host country at least once a year. While there, they offer encouragement and guidance. After their return, they help raise prayer and financial support for the work, and continue to monitor reports from the field. The PMTs provide their colleagues with important links to information and resources for the ministry's development.
The PMT members themselves benefit from the opportunity to build relationships with brothers and sisters in another culture. Our current PMT members tell us that seeing the spiritual commitment of believers in other countries has encouraged their own spiritual growth, enhanced their faith, and blessed their families as well.
What is the Luke Society's role?
The Luke Society oversees the volunteer work of PMTs by orienting and mentoring the team in our focus of ministry and philosophy of management. We introduce team members to the director's work and future vision for ministry. The Luke Society provides administrative support for the PMT by receipting donations generated by the team and disbursing funds raised to the foreign programs. Overall, the Luke Society works together with the PMT for the success of each ministry.
Why did the Luke Society form PMTs?
Missions are global. It is no longer primarily North Americans or Europeans who are reaching around the world to share Christ, but Africans, Asians, South Americans...every tongue and nation. We believe that a partnership strategy between North Americans interested in missions and indigenous Christian missionaries helps us combine our gifts in the body of Christ to help build God's Kingdom.
The Luke Society needed to find a way to provide advisory services and support to an ever-expanding number of ministries without adding additional central staff. It is important to the Luke Society to keep operating expenses to a minimum so as much money as possible can be sent to the field. We also wanted to offer North Americans an opportunity to participate in ministry in a cross-cultural context. The development of PMTs has proven to be effective. They provide the relationship our ministry directors need, and they do it on a voluntary basis.
How can I be involved in a PMT?
First pray and seek the Lord as to what your involvement should be. Review the website to learn more about the Luke Society and our ministry partners around the world.
Second, if it is your desire to form a PMT, discuss the possibility with others in your community, church and/or family to determine who else may want to participate in this ministry with you. As you pray and discuss this opportunity, keep in mind that this ministry requires a commitment of time--to establish and build relationships with national ministry directors--and finances since PMTs are self-supporting.
For more information, contact: Phil David, International Ministry Coordinator.